The Misie Custom in Niegowa – the Past, the Present, the Future

Abstract

There are still many instances of intangible cultural heritage within Zagłębie Dąbrowskie area (the region situated between Lesser Poland and Upper Silesia), which, passed from generation to generation, have long been cultivated by local people and are still present in their authentic forms. An example of such heritage in its best form is the misie custom. This tradition of leading with around a man wearing a straw costume of a bear, despite some recent transformations, is still alive. The custom has been observed within Niegowa community in the district of Myszków (Silesian voivodeship).